ANKARA

The nationalization of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was offered to Turkey's cabinet on Monday, said Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz during the opening of an energy forum in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday.

The TANAP Project aims for the transportation of natural gas, to be produced in the Shah Sea 2 field and others in Azerbaijan and possibly other neighboring countries, through Turkey to Europe. 

Yildiz said the Southern Gas Corridor project, which also includes TANAP, was very important for the region and world. 

Noting that investment decision's signature date of TANAP coincided with the 17 December anti-graft operation in Turkey, Yildiz said the operation was an attempt to undermine Turkey's efforts to realize its potential in being a global energy actor. 

Yildiz stated that blockage of the energy chapter of Turkey by the European Union was prevented only due to political reasons but Turkey maintained its policy with determination. 

Touching upon the natural gas imported from Iran, Yildiz said that energy could not be separated from political issues and energy covers the whole relations between countries.

"Cooperating with Turkey help UK to reach energy security and diversity"

Delivering a speech at the event, UK's Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said energy cooperation with Turkey is important for the UK to obtain secure and diverse energy supplies. 

"Also, positive steps in UK-Turkey energy cooperation can help Turkey open energy chapter and reach EU membership goal," emphasized Lidington.

Lidington said the UK supports Turkey's ambition to be an energy hub, and added, "Southern gas corridor is an example of Turkey's importance in energy transfer to Europe."

"Southern Gas Corridor to become sheets of steel in 2014"

Underlining that Turkey plays a key role in regional energy geopolitics, President of British Petroleum (BP) for Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Region, Gordon Birrell stated during his speech that 2014 is the year that the plan for the Southern Gas Corridor will be actually implemented.

“Gas to Turkey, and through Turkey, will not only contribute to Turkey’s diversity of supply and energy security,” said Birrell. “It will also make a positive contribution to the country’s economic growth as well as employment.”

Emphasizing the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor project by saying the project will change the energy map, Birrell said the project will also give customers in Europe direct access to the gas resources of Azerbaijan for the first time.

The Southern Gas Corridor is estimated to cost around $45 billion and it will include three major pipeline projects: the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia, the construction of TANAP across Turkey and the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) though Greece, Albania and into Italy.

englishnews@aa.com.tr